By Ifeizu Joe
Some residents of Amachalla village in Awka community, within the capital territory have begged the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to come to their rescue as erosion is gradually eating up their homes.
Already, some indigenes who have land in the area, which is located behind Awka’s foremost and prestigious girls college, Amaenyi Girls Secondary School, have abandoned them.
Residents of the area during a meeting to assess the level of damage already caused by the menace said the erosion started about five years ago, and because it was ignored, it kept growing until it became a huge gully, capable of taking several houses in its depth.
The gully which has eaten up a large portion of land in Amachalla village is still threatening more buildings, while many residents of the area have abandoned their uncompleted buildings.
Some residents of the area, including Emeka Ezekwe, Joseph Adimonye and Sam Nwanna who spoke to journalists said the devastation has made the area desolate.
Adimonye said: “Many people have abandoned their homes because of this very erosion.
“You can see many abandoned properties here, including those of people who just started their buildings, but abandoned it.
“In this very place five years ago, a man who couldn’t bear the devastation on his house committed suicide. That is the condition we have found ourselves.”
Nwanna in his contribution said: “I’m not an Awka indigene, but I have a property here. When we first moved in here in 2019, this erosion was just a tiny thing, but with time, it kept increasing, and today houses are threatened.
“What we have here is the famous Amaenyi Girls Secondary School, but today it is threatened. We are calling on government to come to our aide.
Chairman of Awka Na So Enwe Foundation, Mr Chris Offodile who convoked a meeting of residents of the affected area called on the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to come to the aid of the indigenes and residents of the area.
He said: “This is not something individuals can do. Not even our foundation can take care of this, but we know that the governor can help us.
“This is a serious threat to lives and we are calling on the governor to intervene and provide a solution to this problem.”